Time To Get Manly 66: Sam Cooke - Night Beat

I randomly ran across a list of what Esquire magazine claims are "The 75 Albums Every Man Should Own." In this series of posts, I'll explore these manly, manly sounds.

Sam Cooke - Night Beat

The title of this record suggests some kind of after-hours hot spot - loud music, friends, dancing, friends, drinking... But the songs on Night Beat suggest that other kind of night beat - the one when you're all alone with your thoughts and it's so quiet you can hear your own pulse. That's the place where some of the best music comes from, and Sam Cooke delivers a whole record to prove it. Night Beat's sad bastard songs combined with perfect-yet-stark instrumentation makes it the perfect showcase for Cooke's voice - one of the finest ever.